With the help of a metal profiled sheet, you can solve a variety of construction tasks - finish walls and roofs, mount prefabricated buildings, fences and other structures. Due to its small thickness and weight, this material can be adjusted directly at the installation site using hand tools for this purpose.
Features of cutting corrugated board - tool selection
Although the processing of a profiled sheet looks simple, however, certain features of the material must be taken into account. The fact is that this is not an ordinary homogeneous metal sheet: corrugated board in its structure resembles a puff cake, which includes a metal base and several layers of a protective and decorative type. If this protection is broken during cutting, this will expose the inside of the sheet to corrosion.
As a result, the service life of the material is significantly reduced. Therefore, before cutting corrugated board, it is important to find out the features of this procedure in order to avoid causing serious damage to the material.
Working with a grinder
The biggest danger when working with corrugated board is the heating of its surface, which usually accompanies cutting. It is for this reason that when choosing the option of how to cut a profiled sheet, it is better not to use gas cutters. The same applies to the grinder: like all other high-speed tools with abrasive wheels, it provokes the combustion of metal along the cut line. As for the protective coating, it is damaged on both sides of the cut line. The thickness of the damage strip can reach 3-5 mm, due to which edge corrosion appears on the surface.
A certain danger is also represented by sparks that occur during the cutting of corrugated board with a grinder. High temperature allows them to damage the protective coating of the profiled sheet even at some distance from the processing site. The grinder can only be used if the abrasive wheel is replaced with a special disc for cutting corrugated board, which has fine teeth. It is important to understand that even this tool cannot guarantee the complete absence of damage. If you are not completely sure how to cut the corrugated board with a grinder, it is best to exclude this option.
How to cut a profiled sheet - safe options
Especially popular with builders is an electric saw equipped with a special disk.
The undoubted advantages of this tool for cutting corrugated board are:
- The rotation speed is almost two times less than that of the angle grinder. This allows the circular saw not to melt the metal at the place of cutting, but to turn it into fine sawdust.
- The performance of the circular saw is very significant, which contributes to good productivity.
- Replacement discs for working on profiled sheet are very easy to find: they are usually found in departments for cutting discs of various modifications.
When working with an electric tool that has a rotating circle, considerable care must be taken. During work on cutting metal sheets, metal particles are formed, which, flying in different directions, can cause injury. This kind of operation should be carried out by people who have the necessary skill in how to cut corrugated board.
In those situations when it comes to cutting a small amount of material, it is best to use the classic option - a manual hacksaw. Although this tool is simple, it can be used to carry out a wide variety of operations even for a person with minimal values, how to cut a profiled sheet. As for the likelihood of injury in this case, he needs to try very hard for this. However, it is important to understand that cutting a profiled sheet with a hand saw will take quite a lot of time. The implementation of such an operation will require a special table.
You can also use a hand or electric saw. This will increase the speed of work, but the cut line will only be straight. As for the electric jigsaw, it is also used for curly cutting: this is often used to fit the roofing in places where chimneys or ventilation ducts pass. Before carrying out such operations, it is important to carefully mark the area to be treated, in order to avoid errors when cutting. It is important to understand that the electric jigsaw will be able to master the profiled sheet, in which the profile height does not exceed 20 mm. If this parameter is higher, gusts of metal and breakage of the cutting tool may occur.
If you want to adjust the corrugated board, which has a slight thickness, you can use profiled sheet scissors for this. For this, both a conventional hand tool for metal and special electrical devices for working with corrugated board are suitable. There are three types of such scissors: they can be nibbling, knife and slotted. If you want to achieve a significant accuracy of cutting, it is better to use a slotted tool. It has a special head that guarantees excellent cutting quality of the metal sheet. Deformations and distortions usually do not occur in this case.
Professional builders generally prefer electric shears, as it is most convenient to cut profiled sheets with their help. Along with conventional and electric tools, there are also die-cutting tools. When cutting a profiled sheet with their help, two parallel straight lines are obtained. This avoids the procedure for bending the material.
Before starting work, the presence of a special handle makes it possible to set the matrix holder at a right angle to the direction of the cut. Thanks to this, it is possible to avoid the appearance of burrs when cutting a rectangular profile. This tool is quite expensive, and is characterized by a narrow specialization. Usually the purchase of nibblers or electric scissors is justified only in case of professional use.
Some craftsmen, when arranging the roof, prefer to use special nozzles for a drill. If you have experience, using such a nozzle is quite convenient to cut and fit profiled sheets in areas with limited access. All of the above tools for cutting corrugated board have their strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, it is clearly not possible to give a recipe for all occasions. Usually, the choice of the optimal tool directly depends on the specifics of the work - the complexity and shape of the cut, the convenience of the operation. Work experience and personal preferences play a significant role.
The specifics of using a jigsaw - how to cut it correctly
When choosing the right tool for cutting profiled sheets, it is recommended to pay attention to an electric jigsaw. He is especially good in cases of self-implementation of roofing work at his dacha. The same applies to the construction of a fence from corrugated board. Preference should be given to a tool with a laser guide. The electric jigsaw allows you to cut the profiled sheet, without any experience in such operations. Serious efforts are also not required. In addition, this device will be useful in carpentry work or for cutting branches in the garden.
Servicing an electric jigsaw is quite simple. The same applies to handling it - in this case, you will not need any special skills to cut a profiled sheet. The tool has a high speed of work, with a very minimal likelihood of injury. If the saw breaks, the installation of a new nozzle is carried out very quickly. Thanks to these qualities, the jigsaw is very popular when choosing the right option for working with corrugated board.
How to work with an electric jigsaw:
- Before cutting the profiled sheet, it is necessary to carefully mark the surface intended for cutting. It is convenient to mark the lines of future cuts with a regular marker.
- When fixing the sheet, it is important to raise it to a height of at least 100 mm from the desktop, achieving its secure fixation. Any movement during operation must be excluded. In this case, it is convenient to work on ordinary construction goats.
- After the marking and fixing of the material is carried out, you can start cutting it. It is better to replace visual control with a laser pointer: this will allow you to achieve even cutting, without deviating to the right or left of the intended direction.
- When working, it is advisable to press the jigsaw to the cut canvas as tightly as possible. Not every site will succeed, but where possible, it is desirable to do so. In this case, the load on the saw will noticeably decrease, and it will not break as often.
- This tool is one of the safest options for working with profiled sheet - the risk of injury or damage in this case is reduced to almost zero. To do this, the jigsaw has special safety and protective mechanisms, such as shields and limiters for the movement of the saw. However, despite this, additional prudence will not be superfluous. When cutting, it is not recommended to use your hand as an emphasis on the sheet. It is better to hold it by the edge or edge. The hand should not be along the cutting line at all - not a single safety mechanism will save from such stupidity. It does not matter how far the cutting tool is. As for protective clothing, thick mittens or gloves, a tight jacket and goggles that protect against flying chips will not interfere.
How to protect the ends of the profiled sheet from corrosion
Even a special tool for cutting corrugated board does not give a full guarantee that the material will not receive some damage. The most resistant in this regard is a sheet of thickness class 1, with a protective coating of zinc: its molecules along the cut line create reliable protection against oxidation.
In other cases, the edges of the profiled sheet must be treated with anti-corrosion mastic. It also does not hurt to paint over these areas in the tone of the protective layer. These simple precautions will reliably protect the edges of the material along its fitting line from premature loss of performance.
The need to cut corrugated board may arise when erecting a roof of complex shape or arranging junctions. The quality of metal processing will depend on the selected tool. It is important to maintain the original sheet geometry and not damage the protective layer.
When choosing a tool for cutting corrugated board, you need to take into account the planned amount of work and the availability of electricity at the facility. Hand tools will be the best choice for a small amount of work.
1. Manual scissors for metal
They are used for curly cutting of corrugated board or performing a small amount of work. The advantage of this tool is its low cost and the ability to form complex roofing elements. It is best to use metal scissors to cut across the corrugated board wave.
- Right or left;
- Length of cutting edges;
- Type of cut - straight or beveled;
- The presence of a locking mechanism.
For processing, the material must be installed on a platform of several bars. The distance to the floor (ground) must be greater than the stroke of the scissors. First, a basting cut is made, its direction is checked and the absence of severe deformation of the sheet along the edges. Then the final processing of the corrugated board is performed.
The average cost of scissors for metal varies from 1800 to 4500 rubles. The price depends on the design, configuration of the blades and the brand of the manufacturer.
2. Nibblers
A more precise cut can be made with nibblers. Their principle of operation is based on the point breakdown of holes of small diameter. The closest analogue is an office puncher.
To work with nibblers, the sheet of corrugated board must be suspended. Using a drill, a hole is formed into which the working head of the scissors is inserted. Pressing the handle sets the punch in motion, which pierces the metal. After the hole is formed, the working part is shifted in the direction of the cut.
Characteristics of nibblers:
- Punch dimensions;
- Maximum and minimum allowable thickness of the cutting material;
- Handle configuration.
The average cost of nibblers for cutting corrugated board is from 3,500 to 6,000 rubles.
3. Circular saw
Small hand-held circular saws are suitable for straight cuts and large volumes of work. On the market there are models of various capacities, with power from the mains, and from the battery.
To cut roofing corrugated board, you will need a fine-toothed disc with victorious soldering. The rotation speed is set to the minimum so that overheating of the surface does not occur.
When choosing an electric circular saw, consider:
- Motor power;
- Dimensions of installed disks;
- Elements for fixing the tool relative to the sheet;
- The presence of a speed controller (not available on all models).
The price of manual circular saws ranges from 4,000 to 40,000 rubles.
4. Nibblers
Performing a lot of figured and non-standard cuts on a sheet of corrugated board is best done with nibbling electric shears. Their principle of operation is similar to the above-described manual nibblers. The difference lies in the way the cutting part of the punch moves. Translational movements are transmitted from the flywheel of the electric motor.
Work can be performed both on weight and on a fixed sheet. A hole is pre-formed for installing the cutting block. Then the tool is installed and turned on.
When choosing, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
- Rated power;
- Cutting head stroke frequency;
- Power type - battery or mains.
The main advantage of using electric nibblers is high productivity and accurate cutting.
The average price is from 6000 to 58000 rubles.
5. Nozzle on a drill
To optimize costs, instead of nibblers, you can purchase a special nozzle - "Cricket". With its help, you can form a cut that is complex in shape.
Installation is carried out directly on the chuck of an electric drill. The procedure for performing work is similar to the above-described punching tool. The nozzle "Steel beaver" has similar functions.
The average cost of these devices is 1400 rubles.
Why corrugated board cannot be cut with a grinder
According to the recommendations of manufacturers, it is impossible to process corrugated board with an angle grinder (grinder). But this applies only to those cases when abrasive or diamond discs are used, the cut is performed at high speed.
The profiled sheet consists of a metal base, and a multi-layer protective coating that burns out under the influence of high temperature. Because of this, the following defects may appear:
- Destruction of the protective layer- Subsequently, the metal base will begin to rust;
- Loss of appearance– sparks can burn through the polymer or paintwork;
- Cancellation of Warranty from the manufacturer.
In practice, you can do the work of cutting corrugated board with a grinder. But this requires a special toothed disc and a correctly selected number of revolutions. The rotation of the saw blade must remove material from the cut area mechanically, not thermally.
The better to cut corrugated board: top 5 tools
A popular hand tool for fast cutting of corrugated board without damaging the protective coating.
How to cut corrugated board: tools for cutting a profile sheet
The professional flooring is a sheet from galvanized steel with a profile and a polymeric covering. In appearance, it is similar to corrugated tin, but due to the polymer coating, the methods of cutting the considered roofing material and tin are not the same. In order to figure out how to cut corrugated board, which method to choose for this, you need to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of tools designed for cutting material.
Tools for cutting corrugated board
The most common tools used for cutting corrugated board are:
- Bulgarian (UShM);
- hacksaw for metal;
- electric hacksaw;
- manual and electric jigsaw;
- metal scissors;
- electric scissors;
- hand circular saw.
Bulgarian or angle grinder (angle grinder)
Manufacturers of this roofing material do not recommend using a grinder for cutting it due to thermal effects on the polymer coating. However, even some corrugated board sellers use it as the most convenient cutting tool.
When using an angle grinder, certain rules must be observed:
- To work with profile sheets, you need to use a disc with carbide teeth instead of an abrasive wheel. Such disks are called - disks for cutting corrugated board.
- The thickness of the disc should be between 1 mm and 1.6 mm.
- To avoid corrosion, the saw cut is covered with high-quality paint of the appropriate color.
When using a special disc, the cut edges are very thin and neat.
Some craftsmen, using a diamond-coated disc, cut a whole pack (10 sheets each).
Using a grinder has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of using this tool is cutting speed and convenience. Its main drawback is thermal damage to the polymer and zinc coatings, burning the edges and burning the sheets with sparks flying from the grinder. In addition, hot metal particles adhering to the surface contribute to the formation of corrosion centers. Torn edges of sheets after cutting with a grinder require a lot of time to eliminate burrs. During operation, the tool creates a lot of noise. The use of a special disc designed for cutting corrugated board eliminates many of the negative aspects of using an angle grinder.
Pros and cons of a hacksaw for metal
When using this tool, the coating of the profile sheet is subjected to the least destruction. The corrugated board does not show much resistance when cutting, so even manual work will not take much time and effort, and the absence of thermal effects helps to preserve the coating of the material.
Advantages of cutting corrugated board with a hacksaw:
- speed;
- accuracy;
- no significant effort required.
Cons of cutting sheets with a hacksaw:
- when working with a hacksaw, even cuts are easily performed, but it is impossible to cut curved shapes;
- when using a hacksaw for metal, you will need a special table for cutting.
Jigsaw manual and electric
A jigsaw is a tool that, unlike a hacksaw, allows you to perform curved cutting of corrugated board. There is no significant difference between a conventional and an electric tool, but with the help of a jigsaw, work is done faster.
Manual and electric jigsaws are used to cut sheets of corrugated board of well-known brands, small in length, with a corrugation height of not more than 25 mm. Sheets can be cut lengthwise and across, while the sheet must be pressed so that it does not vibrate. Cutting of corrugated board is carried out at high speeds using the finest saw blade for metal.
It's important to know:
To increase the cutting speed, only the reciprocating mode is not enough; it is necessary that the saw blade slope be, as it were, longitudinal.
Disadvantages of using a jigsaw:
- the tool is not very convenient for cross-cutting sheets with a profile height of more than 25 mm;
- not suitable for cutting thin strips;
- the cutting speed is inferior to the grinder;
- when working with an electric jigsaw, the edges are burned, but not as strong as when using a grinder;
- unpleasant noise.
Features of the use of scissors for metal
Advantages of cutting a profile sheet with metal shears:
- It is an indispensable tool for cutting thin strips.
- With good sharpening, they do an excellent job with cutting across the wave.
Disadvantages of using the tool:
- Metal scissors do not cut the corrugated board along the length, since the sheets have little flexibility in this direction.
- The main disadvantage of cutting with such scissors is not very smooth cut edges.
Electric scissors: efficient and convenient
Hand circular saw
Sheets of corrugated board are also well cut with a hand-held circular saw, on which a fine-toothed disk with victorious teeth is installed. For convenience and quick work with the use of a circular, an assistant is required. Feed when cutting should be minimal.
In order not to scratch the paint on the profiled sheets, a conductor is made from a strip of plywood about 1.5 m long and 300 mm wide. In its center along the entire strip, not reaching the ends, a groove is cut, which will be a guideline when cutting. Two points are marked on the sheet along the cut line, a jig is superimposed on them. The groove must match the marked points. After that, the sheet is well pressed and cutting is performed.
It's important to know:
Cutting profiled flooring, which, unlike steel sheet, has a profile and an anti-corrosion coating, requires taking into account these features of the material. Due to the sensitivity of the coating to high temperature, cold cutting methods are preferred. When choosing a tool, these conditions and limitations must be taken into account. For example, the use of plasma cutting, welding, autogenous and other similar tools does not meet the requirements for cutting corrugated board, as it is associated with exposure to high temperatures. It is also not recommended to use abrasive tools that tear off and char the protective coating.
Profiled flooring is an aesthetic and durable material that justifies its purpose, provided that it is properly installed and the tool for cutting it is selected in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements.
How to cut corrugated board - the pros and cons of tools for cutting corrugated board
How to cut corrugated board: choose tools. Pros and cons of using a grinder, hacksaw, manual and electric jigsaw, metal shears and
Cutting corrugated board - how to cut a corrugated board so as not to spoil the material
No one will argue that corrugated board today is an extremely popular (and often simply irreplaceable) material for construction and decoration. In this regard, for many novice builders, the question of how to cut corrugated board becomes very important, because, despite the acceptable cost of its sheets, damage to the corrugated sheet coating can negate all the advantages of using this material and significantly slow down construction.
How to properly cut corrugated board, what tools are used for this and how to process the cut to avoid corrosion, is described in this article.
What is the complexity of cutting a profiled sheet?
The profiled sheet is a rather thin product that is easily damaged during the cutting process. The second feature of corrugated board is its coating with a layer of galvanization and polymer, due to which it becomes impossible to use conventional methods for cutting tin sheets.
High-temperature metal processing methods are also not suitable in this case, because the corrugated board coating, no matter how durable and resistant to adverse natural factors, easily burns out under the influence of high temperatures. It is impossible to cut the profiled sheet with abrasive wheels, as they greatly spoil the coating, which leads to the formation of corrosion. So, how is it possible and necessary to cut the corrugated board?
Method 1. Cutting corrugated board with a grinder
Since an angle grinder with an abrasive wheel, as already mentioned, is not suitable for a profiled sheet due to severe damage to the coating, this tool can only be used in conjunction with special discs for cutting corrugated board, which are thin cutting wheels 1-1.6 mm thick with teeth made of carbide materials.
To avoid corrosion, after cutting the profiled sheet with a grinder, it is necessary to immediately process the edges with special paints.
The advantages of cutting corrugated board with a grinder are the speed of all operations and the relative ease of cutting the profiled sheet.
The disadvantages of cutting corrugated board with a grinder are torn edges and a strong, very unpleasant soundtrack. Even if you use a special disc for cutting corrugated board, the angle grinder, in any case, is an abrasive tool, because the hot metal particles formed during the cutting process fall on the polymer coating and burn through it, creating the prerequisites for the appearance of corrosion centers.
In addition, the torn edges of the profiled sheet after cutting require additional deburring work. All this makes the grinder far from the best tool for cutting corrugated board.
Method 2. Cutting a profiled sheet with a hacksaw
A fairly economical, convenient and popular way to process corrugated board is a hacksaw.
The advantages of cutting corrugated board with a hacksaw are accurate and fast cutting, the absence of notches and burrs, the ability to work independently without much physical effort. Usually, builders use a hacksaw to work with fences, gates, small roofs and other structures that require a small thickness of corrugated board.
The disadvantages of cutting corrugated board with a hacksaw are the impossibility of making curved cuts and the need for a special cutting table to fix the material. Thus, in the case of complex cutting work, in addition to a hacksaw, it is necessary to provide for the use of another tool. However, all the shortcomings of a hacksaw for metal are successfully offset by the advantages of this method.
Method 3. Cutting corrugated board with an electric jigsaw
An electric jigsaw is used for corrugated board, the corrugation height of which starts from 25 mm and is combined with a small length. Cutting with an electric jigsaw is done across or along the sheet, however, it is necessary to firmly press the profiled sheet so that it does not rattle.
Cutting should be carried out at high speeds using a fine-toothed file designed specifically for metal. In the case of high speed, reciprocating operation with a longitudinal inclination of the saw blade is recommended.
The advantages of cutting corrugated board with an electric jigsaw are the low cost of work.
The disadvantages of cutting corrugated board with a jigsaw are the inconvenience of transversely cutting profiled sheets with corrugations from 25 mm, the practical impossibility of cutting thin strips, severe burning of the edges of the metal sheet and protective polymer coating, and strong noise during operation.
Method 4. Cutting corrugated board with scissors (conventional and electric)
Simple scissors for corrugated board are used when it is necessary to carry out small work related to the installation of decking, the construction of garages, gates and fences. Electric shears are used for a wider range of tasks, however, when a smooth cut edge does not matter.
How to cut corrugated board with scissors for metal, see the following video:
The advantages of both simple and electric shears for cutting corrugated board are fast, easy and high-quality cutting of thin and even strips, as well as cutting across the wave without damage.
The disadvantages of scissors for cutting profiled sheets are uneven and rough cut edges. In addition, low flexibility in the longitudinal direction greatly complicates the cutting of corrugated board along.
How to bend corrugated board?
In addition to cutting, corrugated board can be bent, which allows you to significantly expand the possibilities of creating bent products for decorating wall corners, cornices and roof ridges.
To obtain a transversely bent profile, the corrugated board must be bent at a right angle to the profile direction, and if a bending industrial unit is used for this when organizing mass production, then for a small-scale production process it will be enough to purchase a simple manual sheet bender.
The most common design of this tool is considered to be a rotary one with a bending beam, and if desired, this device can be equipped with any additional functions that allow not only bending the corrugated board, but also, for example, cutting it.
Cutting corrugated board - how to cut a corrugated board so as not to spoil the material - Useful tips
How to properly cut corrugated board, what tools are used for this and how to process the cut to avoid corrosion, is described in this article. – Useful tips
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When building a roof from corrugated board, which has a complex shape, or when arranging junctions, as a rule, it becomes necessary to cut the roofing material. Quality of processing: the original geometry of the profiled sheet and the safety of the protective coating depend on the tool used.
Everyone who is going to cut profiled sheeting is interested in how not to lose the consumer qualities of the processed products. To do this, first of all, you need to choose the right way to cut the corrugated board. An error can threaten, at the very least, with uneven cut edges. And if this can somehow be dealt with, then burnt zinc and polymer coating, as a result of overheating of the metal during the cutting process, is another matter.
A tool for cutting corrugated board must meet certain requirements: do not contain abrasive substances, for example, a grinder, or do not use high temperatures in the process of cutting corrugated board, such as autogenous.
Metal profile manufacturers do not extend their warranty to cases where the profiled sheet was cut with the wrong tool, for example, if a grinder with a diamond or abrasive disc was used.
Features of cutting steel profiled decking
In fact, a metal profile is nothing more than a galvanized metal sheet, most often with a special coating, which has a special profile. The complexity of choosing how to cut a profile is due precisely to the presence of a protective layer, which should remain intact when cutting a profiled sheet with your own hands.
The polymer layer does not differ in heat resistance, therefore, it is subject to thermal influences. Therefore, when choosing a cutting option, preference should be given to cold methods.
In addition, it will be necessary to treat the cut points with compounds that will ensure their moisture resistance and corrosion resistance. Usually, a special factory dye is supplied with the material, which is used to paint over the edges left after cutting.
On a note
Even when processing sections with ordinary paint, it is possible to achieve the appropriate degree of protection of the sheet from corrosion and various natural factors.
How to cut a metal profile
Let's highlight the possible options for how and how to cut a metal profile: use
- power tools;
- hand tools;
- machine tool equipment.
Hacksaw
The safest cutting option, which preserves the integrity of the decorative and protective layer, is to use a conventional hacksaw for metal due to the absence of thermal effects in this case. In addition, working with a hacksaw does not take much time, since corrugated sheets do not have much cutting resistance, and cutting does not require much effort.
The main disadvantage of this method is the inability to use it when cutting complex shapes. The hacksaw is not suitable for processing sheets whose wave height exceeds 25 mm. Moreover, deep cuts cannot be made with this tool. Working with it requires a special table or supporting surface.
On a note
For cutting curvilinear complex shapes, a jigsaw (electric or manual) is more suitable.
Is it possible to use a grinder
Manufacturers strictly do not recommend processing profiled sheets with a grinder, better known in everyday life as a grinder. However, in practice, cutting with this tool is quite possible. Following certain rules, you can fully appreciate the obvious advantages of this method.It is important to understand that problems with this tool arise when using abrasive (diamond) discs and at high cutting speeds. Therefore, the negative consequences of material processing can be avoided if you work when cutting corrugated board with special disks with hard alloy teeth, which are located along the edge of the circle, and choose the right number of revolutions. These discs are quite thin, their thickness ranges from 1 mm to 1.6.
The use of a grinder allows you to significantly increase the speed of installation, especially since sheets can be cut at once in 10 pieces. True, some skills are required to cut the pack. This cutting method allows you to get the desired geometric configuration, including an arc with a certain radius.
We note some features of working with a grinder:
- when cutting, the sheet is placed on linings, placing them at a certain distance from the surface of the ground or table where the cut is performed. Otherwise, the disk will “cling” to it and either a cloud of dust will rise or the desktop will deteriorate;
- if a small grinder is used to cut corrugated board with deep grooves, then cutting the sheet to the end will not work - it will have to be turned over to the other side. Therefore, when choosing a grinder, you should consider what the maximum diameter of the disk should be in order to complete the cutting of the sheet mounted on the linings in one pass.
Scissors for corrugated board
If you are looking for how to cut corrugated board, if you need to cut thin strips, then you need special scissors. The edges of the tool are perfectly sharpened, which allows cutting the sheet across the wave.
Cutting the material along is hampered by the structural features of the metal profile, its greatest flexibility in the longitudinal direction.
Scissors for cutting corrugated board make it easy enough to cut the material without damaging the protective coating. When using them, an uneven cut may remain, which, when installing the roof, will overlap the adjacent profiled sheet.
Hand scissors
They are used when it is necessary to cut a profiled sheet or the amount of work to be done is small. This tool, which is also inexpensive, allows you to form roofing elements of complex configuration. Hand scissors of different models differ in such parameters as
- cutting edge length;
- blade configuration - it can be straight or beveled;
- design, for example, the presence of a locking mechanism and more.
When cutting, the material is installed on a platform, which is assembled from bars. Their number should ensure that the distance from the floor surface (ground) to the platform should be sufficient so as not to interfere with the scissors movement.
To begin with, they perform a basting cut and check how deformed the edges of the sheet are.
Only after that proceed to the final processing of corrugated board.
Die-cutting scissors
For greater cutting accuracy, nibblers are used. They work on the principle of an office puncher, punching pin holes with a small diameter. In the process of working with this tool, the metal profile is kept on weight. The working head of the tool is inserted into the hole, it is pre-formed using a drill. The metal is pierced with a punch. To set it in motion, a simple push on the handle is enough. After the formation of each hole, the working part of the scissors continues to move forward in the direction of the cut.
How to cut corrugated board, so as not to damage the thin metal and its anti-corrosion coating, is of interest to everyone who has to cut profiled sheets with their own hands. The use of unsuitable tools for cutting profiled sheets can lead to the loss of consumer properties of the processed product.
If the wrong cutting of the profiled sheet was carried out, at least uneven edges will remain. This can be dealt with without much difficulty, but what about the sheet coating that has burned out due to overheating of the metal during cutting? The problem of burning out zinc and polymer paint is faced by everyone who cuts corrugated board with an angle grinder.
Remember! Manufacturers of profiled flooring do not extend the product warranty if a grinder was used in its cutting.
The processing of profiled sheets with a grinder should be discussed first. When asked whether it is possible to cut the corrugated board with a grinder and get a sheet with a minimally damaged edge, the answer will only be negative. The high-speed cutting wheel of the grinder, cutting thin metal, burns it out and the coating not only along the cut line: the high temperature damages the material at some distance from it. The use of special discs for working with corrugated board partially eliminates the problem: the width of the burnt strip at the edge will become somewhat narrower.
There is another argument against the use of an angle grinder: the sparks that fly apart during the cutting of the profiled sheet burn through the layer of anti-corrosion protection. Do not forget that the cutting wheel leaves torn edges on the sheet.
Nevertheless, an angle grinder is the most common tool for cutting corrugated board. The grinder is used by everyone who chooses the speed of the process, does not worry about the manufacturer's warranty obligations and knows how to protect the edges of profiled sheets after cutting them.
Grinder or circular saw
How to cut profiled sheets with a grinder to cause minimal damage to them? It is better to use a power tool with large circles. This will allow you to cut sheets with any wave height in one pass. We have already mentioned the need to use special discs: they are quite thin (from 1 to 1.6 mm) and framed with teeth made of carbide material.
The procedure for anti-corrosion protection of the edges after cutting the corrugated board with a grinder consists in treating them with anti-corrosion compounds and applying a paint similar in color to the polymer coating of the sheet.
What is the best way to cut corrugated board - grinder or circular saw? If the house has a manual circular, then its use in cutting metal profiles is more appropriate than using a grinder. The rotation speed of the disc mounted on the circular saw is lower than on the grinder. When cutting metal with a circular, the temperature does not rise as much as when processing with a grinder. However, this does not mean that the edges of the corrugated board are not damaged. After cutting with a manual circular saw, the edges of the profiled sheet must be protected from corrosion.
It should be added that the platform of the circular saw can also damage the coating of the metal profile.
How to cut corrugated board with a circular? The work is carried out as follows:
- in a sheet of plywood 1.5x0.3 m, not reaching its edges, make a slot;
- 2 points are placed on the profiled sheet, marking the beginning and end of the cut line;
- the so-called plywood conductor is placed with a slot on the marks;
- plywood and metal profile are fixed, after which the profiled sheet is cut.
Application of hand tools
To cut the profile flooring, you can use a hand cutting tool:
- metal scissors;
- hacksaw for metal;
- manual jigsaw.
Using them, it is impossible to burn through the metal and the coating of the profiled sheet. However, the productivity of labor when using hand tools is significantly reduced. It is better to work with them by cutting small fragments in the metal profile.
It is convenient to cut profiled sheets across the wave with metal scissors. It will be difficult to cut the corrugated board along it, and bending the sheet will lead to its deformation. Before cutting a metal profile with scissors, you need to consider that they leave behind jagged edges.
Smooth edges on the sheet remain after cutting with a manual jigsaw or hacksaw, but these tools are suitable for cutting corrugated board with a wave height of not more than 25 mm. In addition, the design of the hacksaw and jigsaw does not allow them to make deep cuts in the profiled sheet.
How to cut corrugated board to speed up work without compromising its quality? An alternative to manual labor is the use of specialized power tools. Cutting corrugated board with them by an order of magnitude, compared to working with a hand tool, reduces the complexity of the process. In addition, like metal shears or a jigsaw, power tools do not damage the edges of the material being processed.
Electric shears for metal
There are both nibblers and slotted shears for metal. How to cut a profiled sheet, you need to decide in advance. After cutting the profile with both types of electric scissors, smooth edges remain. When cutting corrugated board with both tools, the anti-corrosion coating of the metal is not destroyed, however, nibblers are more suitable for working with corrugated board. They can cut material in any direction. With the help of nibblers, you can cut a sheet of any shape.
Slotted shears are effective when processing flat sheets. They can be used for cutting corrugated board along the waves. In transverse cutting, it is inconvenient to use a slotted tool.
Professionals use electric scissors, but such a power tool has a significant drawback - a high price. It is unacceptable for many amateur roofers.
How to cut a profiled sheet if buying an expensive tool is impractical? You can purchase a drill attachment that performs the function of nibblers. To get started, you need to fix the device in the chuck and turn on the electric drill. The corrugated board is cut by holding the nozzle by a special handle.
Jigsaw cutting
Another tool used for cutting sheets of metal profiles is a jigsaw. It is not as productive to work with them as with electric scissors or a grinder, however, it is much more convenient to cut profiled sheets with an electric jigsaw than with a hand tool.
Before cutting the corrugated board, you need to install a metal file on the jigsaw. Sheet cutting should be carried out at high speed. It should be remembered that an unreliably fixed corrugated board will vibrate during cutting, which will affect the condition of the edges left by the saw blade.
When sawing a profiled sheet, the jigsaw is pressed against its surface, so the base plate of the tool can scratch the zinc or polymer coating. You can protect it by sticking adhesive tape on the profile. After cutting with a jigsaw, the edges are treated with an anti-corrosion compound.
When choosing corrugated board, special attention is paid to its length - in order to avoid transverse joints, it must exceed the dimensions of the roof slope. Due to this, it is possible to achieve an improvement in the roofing protection against moisture penetration, as well as to simplify the installation procedure. In case of exceeding, the material is adjusted - cut in accordance with the required parameters.
Short sheets of corrugated board are best placed horizontally in rows, starting from the bottom and up to the ridge. Regardless of the choice of direction (right to left or vice versa), subsequent sheets are placed on top of the previous ones and attached to the crate.
Where the sheets are joined along the slopes, the overlap level should be at least 200 mm, and bituminous sealant is applied over the joints.
Those who install the roofing material on their own should take into account that there should be a small gap (20-40 mm) between the corrugated board and the heat-insulating layer for ventilation of the roofing pie. Next to the ridge and at the nearest 1.5 meters from it, the sheets should be fastened with double fasteners, that is, not only to the crate, but also to the runs.
When repairing a roof of any design, the sheets should be parallel to the eaves with an allowance of 40 mm, that is, the sheet should still hang a little from it.
Adjacent nearby sheets are fastened with one self-tapping screw. When laying the roofing, as well as when adjusting the material to the required parameters, you need to be extremely careful not to damage the protective layer of the sheets. If, at the end of the installation work, large overhangs are noticeable, then the metal profile is cut to remove excess material.
How to properly fix the corrugated board?
When laying on a wooden crate, the material is fastened with self-tapping screws at the rate of 6-8 fasteners per 1 sq. m.
You should also follow some well-known rules:
It is not recommended to screw the screws "on the fly", so the hole is drilled with a drill with an increase in diameter by 0.5 mm from the size of the self-tapping screw. Fastening should be carried out strictly at a right angle with a tight pressing of the sheets to the crate. If some changes are necessary, you should decide in advance how to bend the corrugated board, because if at this stage the structure is displaced, or the seal is skewed, then a through hole is formed when the self-tapping screw is attached.
For convenience, you can tighten the screws with a screwdriver or drill. The screws are made of a special material, so they are easily attached to the metal crate.
It is forbidden to nail the corrugated board with nails, because with strong gusts of wind they easily come off. If it is necessary to shorten the length of the sheet, then you can use a grinder, into which a special disc is inserted for cutting corrugated board, and avoid gas cutting and welding of the material.
Features of fastening material in hard-to-reach areas:
- Where the corrugated board is laid near vertical surfaces (pipes, walls), butt strips are mounted.
- The design of the ridge element must also be securely fastened using a seal.
- When laying a coating up to 0.7 mm thick, in order to avoid accidental damage to the roof, you will need wooden scaffolding and special shoes, and a metal profile cutter, which is offered on the market along with other components, will not be out of place.
- At the final stage, the corrugated board is cleaned of debris, chips, scratches and cut points are painted.
- After 3-4 months, you should check the quality of the fastening of the self-tapping screws, if necessary, tighten them.
Technology for cutting corrugated board
In terms of structure, corrugated board is similar to a tin sheet, but it has some features in the installation technique, in particular, this concerns questions about how to bend a metal profile and cut it correctly.
Since the material consists of a metal base and a special protective coating against corrosive effects, when cutting it, it is necessary to ensure the integrity of this layer.
When choosing a method for sawing a coating, its resistance only to low temperatures is taken into account, that is, a cold cutting method is needed here. As a rule, these can be scissors for cutting corrugated board and other tools that will be convenient for the developer and will be able to meet the requirements.
Naturally, cutting with plasma, autogen and other similar tools is not suitable due to the high operating temperature. The same applies to abrasive methods, which destroy and char the material in the cuts.
So, what is optimal for cutting corrugated board:
- A hacksaw is the safest tool for working with corrugated board. Although the whole procedure will be done manually, it does not take much time, because the material can be easily cut, while the protective coating remains intact. The disadvantages of this technology include only the inconvenience of working with complex shapes, which requires a special table.
- If you need to get more complex curvilinear shapes, then you won’t find anything better than a jigsaw. The tool can be either electric or manual. The jigsaw contributes not only to simplifying the process, but also to quickly cutting sheets of the desired size, taking into account the initial ones.
- The building materials market offers manual and electric scissors for corrugated board, which, although not in great demand among professional craftsmen, will perfectly cope with the task when cutting metal sheets. Since everything depends on experience, beginners may become frustrated with this tool due to the formation of jagged edges in the material. You can correct the situation by covering such an edge with the next sheet.
- An indisputable advantage of all the listed methods of processing the material is cutting with a grinder, but not with an abrasive disc, as mentioned earlier, but with a special disc for corrugated board. It will also help in cases where you do not know how to make an arch from a metal profile, and what tool to use.
The disc provides a thin and delicate cut, which is achieved through the use of a strong alloy for its production. Strong teeth do not break and do not bend even when working with metal for a long time.
As soon as the tool is selected, you can proceed to the description of the process of cutting corrugated board. It should be noted that even professional builders cannot achieve the preservation of the integrity of the protective layer, due to which the service life of the material is significantly reduced.
The equipment described above only helps to reduce the destroyed area. The material cannot be restored, especially if curved corrugated board is used, but to reduce the adverse effect, the cut point can be covered with an anti-corrosion and moisture-resistant compound.
How to cut corrugated board with a grinder, look at the video:
After the cutting and processing of the roofing sheet is completed, it is painted with factory paint, which, as a rule, is included with the material. If one was not found, then you can buy paint in a spray can in accordance with the texture of the roofing. This method of protecting seams from negative factors is even simpler and more convenient than traditional staining.
By following the basic rules for working with corrugated board, including laying and fastening, as well as cutting and processing sheets, you can achieve a good result in the form of a high-quality and reliable roofing (read: "").